Pentax 67?

[gregg]

OK - a total non-RF question - more really of a session "on the couch" with everyone to get their thoughts...

I'm nutty for my Leica M6 and iiic cameras and also shoot a lot of digital (D200) for PJ assignments. But I'm considering medium format too...


Does anyone have practice with the Pentax 67? I like the bigger negative and relative portability compared to my 8x10 view camera for studio work.

I've done a lot of great things with the 8x10 but it is just so dang big and requires a huge darkroom commitment to develop and contact print. No doubt the images are awesome, but with good film and scanning 6x7 I'm guessing an 8x10 or 11x14 is going to be just as nice.

On the other hand - could I do just as well with a B&W conversion tool and my RAW files from the D200? Is there something a great 6x7 negative is going to give me that the D200's digital file won't? I'm shooting mostly portraits.

Yes - it is evil that a medium format SLR is tugging at my GAS bone...

Advice?

 

[Never Satisfied]

Hi Gregg, just sold my Pentax 6 x 7 because we just couldn't get along once I got into the quiet RF thing. The Pentax shutter and mirror sound like and old truck door being slammed real, real hard. And the vibration in the body is similar aswell. That said, they produce stunning HUGE negs that contain 3 times more information than your D200 and now there is a lens baby for the 6 x 7. If you've got GAS and think you want a 6 x 7, look at a Mamiya RF, quiet, getting cheaper and is 6x 7.

Cheers Andrew.

 

[Finder]

Compared to your D200, it will give entirely different depth of field. It will have a film signature. And you should be able to get more detail out of it.

 

[venchka]

I had a Pentax 6x7 way back when before the mirror lock up. Sold it not long after buyng it.

Fast forward: Bought a slightly newer 6x7 body with mirror lock up and 3 lenses last year. I like it. It's spending more time on the tripod with the mirror up to make the best negatives and positives possible. I like what I get. I have the 45/4.0, 105/2.5 & 150/2.8 lenses. Very nice. The 2.5 & 2.8 are relatively fast and equal speed to several of my 35mm RF & SLR lenses. I also have 4x5. The Pentax is a lot more portable. I haven't really gotten around to using the 4x5 yet.

The big 6x7 negative and the 45mm or 105mm lens will yield similar crops as the Hasselblad/Fuji Xpan. Plus you can move the Xpan format anywhere you like on the 6x7 negative. In today's market it's a nice system.

 

[felix5616]

I own a pentax 67II and several of their lenses. you can not compare the 67 to RF, two completely different cameras. The image quality is outstanding, the lenses sharp and the negatives huge. Scanning or wet printing produces beautiful prints. The camera take a little getting used to. Get one with mirror lock up. I do some macro and without mirror lock up you will not gey the sharpness you expect from medium format.

 

[Pablito]

Yes, the image quality is magnificent. And it handles like a 35mm slr. That is, you hold it to your eye and focus from underneath like a 35mm slr. OK, I have big hands, not everyone might agree. The wooden grip actually makes the camera much HARDER to handle - what were they thinking? Yes, the mirror lock-up is good to use when in the studio and the camera is on the tripod. But I have used this camera hand held in the field at 1/60 and even 1/30 and results were good. The downside for me is the proportion of the 6x7 format itself. I prefer 6x6 or 6x9, or even 6x4.5.

 

[Finder]

From what I understand, the early models of this camera did not handle vibrations from the mirror very well.

 

[KoNickon]

Pablito is right -- if I had three hands, maybe the wooden grip would make sense. I need to use mine more, because it does produce great results and is pretty straightforward in operation. The shutter/mirror "report" is rather stunning -- about as different from the sound and feel of that of a Hexar AF, say, as is possible. But I think handholding is definitely feasible, particularly at 1/125th or faster. The lenses, as you'd expect, as as good as anything else available.

 

[venchka]

The price is right

The price is right

The lenses, as you'd expect, as as good as anything else available.

Compared to Hasselblad 40mm & 150mm/2.8 lenses, the Pentax 45mm & 150mm lenses rival C/V lenses on a price/performance basis.

 

[sienarot]

I think what kept me from getting the Pentax 67 was that giant mirror and the noise and vibration that resulted in it. My friend owns one that I played with the other weekend. When he got it, it took it out to the park to try out. The mirror slap scared off a bunch of birds! Haha

 

[sharpf8]

Pemtax 6 x 7 is a great camera. I had one many moons ago, with 90mm and 165mm LS lens--a great combination. If you don't mind using a tripod, it's one of the best medium format cameras, IMHO. I used it mainly for strobed portraiture and always on a tripod, because it was HEAVY. It's a 35mm camera on steroids. 🙂

 

[oftheherd]

OK, I got to say it: consider the Mamiya line. If not the newer 7 line for whatever reason, then the Universal or Super Press 23. The later are system cameras. The Press 23 has bellows on the back for perspective control. Both take extension tubes if you like macro (you would then also need one of the focusing backs. They are RF so the shutters are in the lenses and are quiet if that makes a difference. Both are heavier than a 35 camera for sure, but not something you can't handle. By the way, they have a handle on the side which has a trigger to fire the shutter easily. Lenses are 50mm (24mm eqivalent), 65mm (28mm equivalent), 100mm (normal), 150mm (75mm equivalent) and 250mm (135mm equivalent). There are also some other lenses which fit, like a 75mm, an older 90mm, and I think one more. There are two 250mm lenses, an f/5 and an f/8. The later does not RF focus, scale only, but of course is lighter.

I find my Press 23 easy to handle. It has interchangable backs in 6x7 and 6x9, as well as a 645/6x6/6x9 back with a knob wind (requires masks in the back and on the viewfinder). The others use a wind lever like a 35mm camera. It would be lighter than the Pentax. I don't know how the prices compare, but I expect the Universal/Press 23 would be less.

I know many people have had the Pentax and liked it. I once considered one myself. However, the Mamiyas deserve consideration. Development if b/w or color is the same as with 35mm, but of course for enlargements you need an enlarger that handles 6x7 or a scanner that handles 6x7.

Whatever 6x7 you get you are sure to like. You might want to consider a 6x7 or 6x9 folder to get a feel for the negative size. You will like it.

EDIT: BTW, the mamiya lenses are very sharp.

 

[leif e]

A really loveable camera

A really loveable camera

As so many others; I had one - ages ago - with a macro short tele lens (135mm?), played around with it for some time and got some really nice results. Why I got rid of it, I don´t really know - have considered buying a used one several times lately. It is big, though - but handles well, as far as I can remember.

And; couldn´t help myself here. Found thes old Pentax 6X7 negatives the other day, while I was testing the Epson V700 scanner. The guy in the picture is 32 now, the snail ... It´s been some time😱

leif e

 

[Ade-oh]

I bought a secondhand Pentax 67ii a few months ago and I've been very happy with it so far. The huge negatives are great to print from, the lenses are excellent, the AE is spot on and overall it's easy to use if you're used to working with a 35mm SLR. The downside is the weight and bulk, but I guess that goes with medium format. I haven't found vibration to be a problem yet.